Hey
I have sold things on ebay...nothing big and valuable like a wedding dress though. But its really pretty easy, you just follow the steps and there you go. I would suggest taking a lot of pictures of it, when you list something you get your first photo for free, then each picture is something silly like 15 cents. Its worth it for something like that...I would show as much detail as you can, any special adornments, beading, sequins, etc. You might want to show it being worn by someone...you or someone else. You can crop out your face if you dont want to be seen. It would show better being on a body then on a hanger. Even if you had a dressmakers dummy, it would look nice.

If you have an amount in your head that you want for it, and wont sell it for less, make sure you put a reserve on it. Just remember that while you are trying to get the most money for an item, someone else is trying to get an item for the least that they can. So have a realistic amount in mind and go with that. If you are expecting to get what was paid for it, you probably wont. You may get lucky and some people might get into a bidding war and really really want to look like little bo peep and will pay any amount for it!! LOL

Remember the buyer pays the shipping. I like to include my zip code and the weight of the package. That way they can go to the postoffice website and do the calculation to get an idea on how much it will cost to ship it. Of course with a wedding dress they may want it shipped by Fedex, or UPS or something more trackable than the regular mail. I would offer a few choices and give approximate cost for them.

Its up to you if you take a personal check from someone. I have taken them and have had no problems. I have accepted paypal without any problems as well. If you state that you will take a check also state that the package wont be shipped until the check clears. Just a CYA.

Hope this helps somewhat....let me know if you have anymore questions.

It's easy selling on Ebay. I've cleaned out my house, my parent's estate, my father-in-law's estate, a car, and my brother's truck. I've sold for friends and family. The main thing to remember, nothing gets shipped until it's paid for and cleared. I use Paypal, money orders or certified checks only. These are the safest. I never take a personal check through the mail. Paypal will accept a check for you, but then you wait until they let you know it has cleared before mailing item out. Buyer always pays for postage and insurance. If you need some help and for someone to hold your hand, email me off list. Hales Angels

Thanks for the advice, both of you. The last time I looked at it, I thought it would take a large commission on an item. Of course I was only buying small ticket items (under $10), so any picture fee, listing fee, etc. seemed steep. Good to know the buyer pays insurance and shipping. I'll have to go weigh it. It was cleaned and sealed in a box right after my wedding. Ready to ship!

I do have plenty of pix to show the dress as it is to be worn. Just have to scan them.

I'll let you know when I get it posted and the outcome.

speedsquare

Also sometimes Ebay has free listing days or 50% off listing days and you don't have to pay the fee to list the item. The last one was on Valentine's Day. I didn't know about it til the day was half over, I was talking to my sister and she was trying to get me off the phone. "I gotta get all my stuff on Ebay today she said!" So I immediately dropped everything and began listing stuff that day too!!

Put a lot of description in your description too. This way it will come up in peoples searches! For a wedding dress don't forget Romance, Romantic, Candlelight, Honeymoon, Special Occasion, Special Event, use as many adjectives as you can think of!!!
And if you think it might go more for a costume....you might want to stress Halloween, Costume Party, etc etc

-Amanda from Seattle

Very good ideas, Amanda! Thanks.

As someone who just bought a wedding dress on ebay, I thought I might have a few tips for you. You said that it was drycleaned after and sealed in a box.... state that in your info but also include a pic of the sealed box. That way they can see that it's not yellowing inside or anything.

If it was kept in a smoke free home, state that. The size that it is and then how it was altered would be helpful if anything major was done. Also, possibly state your height so they have an idea of how long/short it might be on them. If you have anything that goes with it that you're interested in getting rid of, i.e. the veil, special matching jewelry, that will help your bid stand out and be more competitive. Use cool words to describe it, like "vintage."
I saw many dresses on ebay when I was looking... I was bored at work and was actually looking for wedding favors... which brought up a flower girl dress, which made me think ooh, I wonder what's on here.

You definitely need pics of it on someone or a mannequin.... I'd rather see it on a mannequin than just hanging on the back of a door.... and I saw a lot of both. The best was one from the 50's in what appeared to be a 19th century parlor. I did see a lot of pictures with people's heads cut off too which didn't sway me at all. I saw some 80's style dresses that were getting bids too. Now is a good time to post since June and the rest of the wedding season is approaching.

Good Luck!
moonduck (who plans on reselling hers after the wedding too while it's still in style!)

I just about choked when I saw you were selling your wedding dress. Do folks no longer pass these down to their daughters? I was married in whatever I managed to pull out of the closet that day, so I haven't thought about this before.

We have this great place in Chicago that lets you drop off whatever you want to eBay, and they do the rest. They photo, post, collect, and pay you at the end. Takes all the fuss out of the situation for just a few dollars.

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Do folks no longer pass these down to their daughters?

Well, in my case, I'm a good 5 inches taller than my mother and *muffledcough* pounds heavier. :-)

Carianna of the GG

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We have this great place in Chicago that lets you drop off whatever you want to eBay, and they do the rest. They photo, post, collect, and pay you at the end. Takes all the fuss out of the situation for just a few dollars.

Those stores are all over the US.

http://www.i-soldit.com/locations.asp

TG

Do folks no longer pass these down to their daughters?

Well, I only have sons...lol....although I suppose that's an option as well. I do still have mine, though I should probably get rid of it. It's not as if it's made from expensive materials or anything that makes it particularly collectible or noteworthy.

And, I once wore my mother's wedding gown as a halloween costume. I must have been 10 at the time (it was a short gown).

Different strokes, I suppose.

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Do folks no longer pass these down to their daughters?

My mom's hasn't fit me since I was like 10. It's folded up and yellowing in a drawer. I'm going to cut a piece off and pin it to the inside of my dress and then she's going to throw it out. I wouldn't have worn it if it fit anyways, it's very..... not good looking. I'll prob cut a tiny piece out of the inside of mine too for my possible future daughter/s.

I don't think I'll keep my dress b/c I'll never wear it again. Unless someone I know wants to borrow it, I'll be selling it off too. It's been worn once already. It'll go out of style in the next couple of years. Why not let someone else enjoy it for the day like I'm going to and get a good deal along the way just like I did? Weddings are way too expensive for just one day. I'm getting a marriage, not a wedding. My dress has nothing to do with the marriage in the end and I'd rather look at pictures of my pretty white dress and remember it that way instead of yellowing in a box.

Besides.... I'm at this point in my life where my parents are downsizing and giving me all their old crap and frankly, I don't have room for everything!!!

moonduck

Do folks no longer pass these down to their daughters?

My marriage failed, so to me, the dress has bad karma and I wouldn't pass it on to my daughter. I still love the dress and perhaps we'll use it when she's old enough to play dress-up. =)

n.

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I'm going to cut a piece off and pin it to the inside of my dress and then she's going to throw it out.

I did something for my girls with bits from my wedding gown that you may like.

I cut off some of the lace and a portion of the satin and made garters for the girls to wear on their wedding day. I made a casing with the satin for the elastic, gathered the lace and used it as the edging. In the center I made a small cluster of ribbon and added a satin rose. My sister had a new penny from each of the girl's birth year made into a charm and we attached that to the bow.

They turned out great and the girls were delighted. "Something OLD from mama's gown". This year is our 30th..... can't believe it's been that long.... I am getting old.


~TPL

I played in my mom's wedding dress when I was 7-8....I REALLY wish she had not let me. I'm sure she thought it was outdated and nothing her two daughters would want to have as a keepsake. I would love to have it now for my daughter to see and keep as a treasure. It would be 63 years old now!!
My daughter probably will think my wedding dress isn't something she'll want to wear, but HER daughter just may find a treasure in wearing her grandmother's dress.
Just something to consider.
Of course, dresses are just things and if you need to rid yourself of things-that is very zen like and admirable as well.

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I did something for my girls with bits from my wedding gown that you may like.

I cut off some of the lace and a portion of the satin and made garters for the girls to wear on their wedding day. I made a casing with the satin for the elastic, gathered the lace and used it as the edging. In the center I made a small cluster of ribbon and added a satin rose. My sister had a new penny from each of the girl's birth year made into a charm and we attached that to the bow.

Wow, this is an awesome idea, thanks! I already have my garter, it matches my dress (my dress has red edging and ribbons and stuff) and I have one to throw too (I think that whole thing is kind of silly but I was told I HAVE to throw a bouquet and my man thinks the garter thing is awesome!), but who says I can't wear two garters, lol!!! Thanks!

moonduck

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but who says I can't wear two garters, lol!!!

No one - I did it! :)

TG

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(I think that whole thing is kind of silly but I was told I HAVE to throw a bouquet and my man thinks the garter thing is awesome!)

I didn't throw the bouquet at my wedding and we didn't do the garter thing either. We were given a hard time by some people (my Grandmother mostly). But it was important to us to do things that meant something to US.

It's your wedding - Do what YOU want to do.

Mumma and Bunny Boy =D

I have seen pillows made from wedding dress pieces. They sit on the bed or in the formal living room, very lacy etc etc. And a nice way to have the dress recycled and around you all the time rather than sitting in a box gathering dust.

-Amanda from Seattle

I bid on an item on eBay today, and about 45 minutes before the end of the auction, I received an eBay email of the type you get when someone wants to you see an item. Here is what the email said:

I'm the seller of the item that you've recently bided through the eBay system.Item name: STAR TREK ENTERPRISE: ARCHER: SCOTT BAKULA AUTOGRAPH Item number: (330104197354) I`ve just been contacted by the eBay staff who informed me that due to some reasons the eBay policy automatically proclaims you to be the winner by default. I need your agreement on this so I can contact eBay to confirm you that you're the winner, otherwise I'll relist the item. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but I need an answer asap. You will have the oportunity to purchase the item at your last given price wich is US $*removed*. If you agree my offer please respond this email or contact me at *removed*@gmail.com . Thank you!

Fortunately, when bidding on something like this, I make sure I know who I am dealing with (Creation Entertainment) - and this person was definitely NOT the seller. I reported this to both eBay and Creation. Obviously, the email sounds fishy, and the misspelled words and odd grammar should give a clue that it is not legitimate, but I just wanted everyone to be aware of what kind of scams peole are trying now.

TG

This type of scam has been going on for quite some time. My mom used to get things like this all the time and even on items she didn't bid on. Just be careful and don't give anyone your information other than the seller of the item you are buying. Have to be careful with all the identity fraud going on now.

Karen

I don't get too many fradulent eBay emails any more, but this is the first time I have received this type of ploy. Unfortunately, some people must fall for it; otherwise the scammers would have moved on to something else.

TG

Here's another one I was made aware of recently ...

Unbeknownst to one another 2 acquaintances were bidding on the same item. One of them won the auction. The seller and winner made the transaction (money sent/item received). Then 2 weeks later, someone posing as the seller emails at least one of the "losers," and said the original winner did not honor the transaction. "The seller" would offer it to the this bidder for the last bid he placed on the item. This bidder contacted Ebay to report the fraud.

This stories really make me mad!

I just got another email from someone claiming to have a similar item as the one I bid on and he wanted to know if I wanted to buy it. I reported him to eBay too. What made me really mad is that the email was addressed "Dear Sir". What part of Trekkie GAL doesn't he understand?

If I start to get emails like this everytime I bid on something, I may consider giving up on eBay.

TG

Scams, bad.

This makes it really difficult for folks in a situation like myself. My dad just sold an item on eBay..only it wasn't his. My mother had swiped it from me ten years ago. She gave it to kid sister five years ago. Kid sister recognized it as not hers and gave it to Dad last year, who forgot he'd given it to me when I was about 8. He sold it. Told me about his AMAZING sale, cause he was so proud of his savy eBay skills.

So I frantically contacted the winning bidder. This person, of course, sensibly assumed I was part of a scam. ARG.

Twice the price of the sale later, I have my item safely back on display in my living room.

If those idiots hadn't been running scams like you posted, I might have saved myself about two weeks of effort on the deal. Sheesh.

You have to be real careful on Ebay sometimes.

paul

No listing fees for the month of September, so now is the time to jump in and try ebay if you have never done it before. Or put up those items that you have been procrastinating about!! That's what I have been doing all morning. :-)

-amanda from seattle

Ohh, thankyou-thankyou, Amanda. This just might be the time I actually do it. Tomorrow I'll start.

Geez, when I saw this I thought it meant that non-premimum members could list non listed boxes all month long! ;-}

That's funny. Anchorman and I were just talking yesterday about all those items I've wanted to list . . . someday.

DebBee

My friend sent me a link to this e-bay posting. I am surprised it has not made it to the boards yet (at least not that my search uncovered.) Enjoy! This one is a classic!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675

S of the PEAS